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About the course

Campus Stockton Teaching Alliance PGCE School Direct programme is full time over the academic year (September - June). This course is run in partnership with York St John University and covers the 11- 16 age phase with 16-19 enhancement. It is a postgraduate qualification which carries recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

The training programme consists of school experience in two of Campus Stockton Teaching Alliance schools combined with taught sessions of subject knowledge, pedagogy and academic assignments at the university and partnership schools. You will have a comprehensive induction prior to commencing the course.

Programme Structure

The PGCE Secondary programme is structured in phases (introductory, developmental and consolidation). Academic work will run alongside the school-centred programme of training, with two Masters level professional modules being complemented by two level 6 subject studies modules as follows: Understanding Learning and Teaching and School Experience, Emerging Professional and School Experience, Introduction to Subject Specialism, Teaching Strategies: Planning for Learning, Teaching and Assessment in Subject Specialism.

The education and training programme ensures that you fulfil the requirements of the current teachers’ standards for the award of Qualified Teacher Status. The programme encourages you to engage critically with educational issues to enable you to develop as reflective practitioners who are able to evaluate and adapt your practice to meet the diverse needs of pupils in secondary schools.

Assessment

Assessments are varied and include assignments, portfolios and presentations within and alongside school experience. These are designed so that you can demonstrate the appropriate skills required of a 21st century secondary teacher. The professional modules also encompass the assessment of school experience placements, which take a holistic approach. Your progress is assessed across all areas of the teaching standards throughout the placement. Throughout the programme, practice and theory is synthesised to engage you with the pedagogy of your subject, ensuring you become outstanding practitioners in your specialist field.

The programme leads to the award of a PGCE with a recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status. Successful completion of the professional development modules also count as 60 credits towards a Masters degree.

Academic and Mentor Support

Academic and mentor support is integral to the programme. You will be allocated a University Academic Tutor and link tutor, an Alliance School Subject Mentor and an Alliance School Professional Mentor at the start of the programme with whom you are required to meet regularly.

Interview process

Campus Stockton Teaching Alliance co-ordinate and participate in the recruitment process with York St John University.

The recruitment process is rigorous and thorough.

Selection is based on evidence given throughout the application process, for example the personal statement, references, detailed breakdown of degree content, details of other academic, professional or vocational qualifications, evidence of prior experience and achievements.

At interview candidates will be required to:

use their subject knowledge to engage with pupils in a learning activity

carry out a written task to demonstrate subject knowledge and/or literacy skills

meet with a subject specialist to discuss the candidate's subject knowledge

take part in a formal interview to further explore the candidate's subject knowledge, knowledge of education and suitability for training.

Staff from the Campus Stockton Teaching Alliance lead schools, alliance partner schools and York St John University will be involved in the selection event.

After the selection event, participating staff will collectively consider each candidate's suitability for a place on the course. Candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.

Skills Tests

Once you have submitted your application to us, you will need to arrange to take and pass the tests, ideally before interview. Teaching Agency QTS skills in Literacy and Numeracy must be completed before commencing your course.

How school placements work

School placements involve opportunities to observe teaching, to work collaboratively, and to progressively increase the percentage of independent teaching. You will also attend school meetings e.g. staff meetings, participate in school training days and other professional development events as appropriate. You are given the opportunity to participate in all aspects of school life and the wider school context.

There is strong support provided by school staff, mentors and university staff. Campus Stockton Teaching Alliance, partner schools and the university work together to ensure that trainees become creative educators in a supportive and encouraging environment.

School experience will closely complement taught elements of the programme, ensuring that student teachers are able to deepen their pedagogical knowledge. Student teachers will have opportunities within their school-based practice to observe young people in different subjects and will be encouraged to reflect upon their observations and related tasks within their own studies.

A strength of the school-centred programme is that it draws upon the expertise of school-based practitioners in outstanding schools and outstanding departments to support you in developing your subject knowledge and pedagogical skills. School-based staff have been involved in the development of the programme, alongside university staff and consultants and will also be involved in delivering sessions for both subject studies and professional studies.

Partnership is at the heart of the programme with Campus Stockton Teaching Alliance, York St John University tutors, school mentors and other education professionals successfully working together to secure outstanding student teacher progress.

Whilst you will be allocated to one school for the majority of your training you will also have experiences in at least one other school within the Alliance. The progressive nature of school experience and immersion into the life of the school (which is a distinctive part of the School Direct approach) will enable you to progress effectively by building upon your developing skills as beginning teachers. The time in school will ensure the NCTL requirement for 120 days of school-based training on secondary postgraduate courses of one year’s duration.

Fees

The course fees for 2019/2020 are as follows:

Student type

Fees to pay

UK students

£9,250

EU students

£9,250

Financial support

You could be eligible for either:

a scholarship of £28,000

a bursary of £26,000

To qualify for a scholarship you’ll need a degree of 2:1 or above in Geography or a related subject. For a bursary you’ll need a 2:2 or above in any subject.

You can’t claim both a bursary and a scholarship - you can only claim one.

Requirements

Qualifications

GCSEs

GCSE in English Language at Grade C/Grade 4 or above

GCSE in Mathematics at Grade C/Grade 4 or above

Degree

Applicants must be a graduate of an approved university or other institution granting equivalent qualifications acceptable both to YSJU and the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL). Applicants should have, or expect to receive, a 2:1 honours degree or better and the degree must have significant components of direct relevance to the subject applied for. Applicants with a lower degree classification may be considered if they can demonstrate certain aptitudes at interview.

Personal qualities

We are looking for student teachers with an enthusiasm not just for their subject, but to teach it to pupils in the secondary age range, and who have some recent knowledge and understanding of secondary education. You will need to be a great communicator, a reflective practitioner and have the resilience to thrive in a challenging but hugely rewarding profession.

Other requirements

School Experience

It is desirable that you should have at least two weeks (10 days) relevant and recent (within the last two years) secondary classroom experience before you apply. This might be gained by undertaking a teaching assistant role or a voluntary placement within a secondary school.